The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-01-07
WHOLE NO. 913.
GIRLS IN NEW YORK.
HOW AND WHERE THEY CAN
= LIVE CHEAPgY.
Enformationu of Interest to Fair Ones
Who Propose to Study In the Metropo-
1is--Increasing Independence of the
American Girl.
Especial Correspondenee.l

NEW YORK, Dec. 13.--The American girl
Of a generation ago was, as a rule, poorly
| educated, indolent and delicate. Notwith-
standing her ignorance she would not be con-
tent to do household work. nor would she inn
4 prove her delicate health by resorting to those
outdoor sports which have since become so
popular. The girls of twenty-five years ago
were not ambitious. Few thought of making
acareer, but those who did, found the stage to
be about the only profession open to them,
and devotion to that almost carried disgrace
along with it. Indeed the young woman who
thought TO earn her own living might count
upon the contempt of the world instead of
plaudits for her pluck and independence.
Now it is better. The American girl has
| pushed her way into the ranks of earners and
all that is now asked of the fair toilers of the
land is that they shall be skilled" in what
! sver trade or profession they may elect to
follow. Hence it comes that the collegiate
Institutions of Europe are crowded with our
countrywomen, studying to become singers,
| painters, dramatic artists, physicians and
| teachers.
| The rush to the institutions of learning in
| New York is even greater than to those in
| foreign countries The Cooper Union free
| art school for women yearly admits to its
| room more than 700.
l have been making some inquiries as to
how the girls manage who come here with
only little money to pay for tuition and
living expenses, and give the result for the
benefit of the fair toilers of the future who
| wish to acquire their education in New York.
Boarding is the chief item of expense. In
the average respectable boarding house 81 a
| week is as low as young girl can obtain
board for, and this only pays for hall room,
| ON the upper floor, without fire.
Clearly this will not do for the young stu
| dent who must make little money last
! long time and get as much comfort out of it
| as possible Therefore she had better 90 to
one of those boarding houses which have
| been established TO cater to this class. There
| are very few of them, and all require
! recommendation or other guarantee of re-
| spectability from the would-be boarder.
| First in size and Importance comes the
| "Home for Young Women" No. 81 North
Washington square. There arc two houses,
containing rooms for eighty-six young girls.
| The board is So q week, including fire and
| gas, or may go as high as 81, S. or Sc, ac-
| cording to the room occupied Washing is
| done there for fifty cents per dozen, just half
the usual price Young ladies arc allowed
| to receive visitors in the parlors. This house
| is closed at 1880 p. m., except to such as
| have permission to be out later. The houses
are of the large, old fashioned style, roomy,
sunny and cheerful, well furnished and the
| food good and substantial.
Washington square is about the only
square in New York whose beauty has not
been marred by trade. The fine old man.
sions fronting upon it are mainly occupied
| by people of wealth and refinement, among
| them being the famous Mrs. Hicks Lord and
| Sir Itoderick Cameron.
| A few squares away from this home, i'll one
of the busiest streets of the city, is Miss
Leggatt's boarding house, No. G0 Clinton
place, Eighth street. 1t was opened some
| years ago solely for the accommodation of
working women, but has lost its distinctive
character. However, it still receives young
women, which not all the boarding houses
will do, and many Of the hotels positively de-
cline them guests.
Board is rather cheap at Miss Leggatts, a
good large room, comfortably furnished, and
good, plain table are supplied for 50 week
| for two il. ROOM A line of cars passes the
doors, and Broadway is but couple of
squares distant.
was much impressed with the pleasant
appearance and accounts of 1.-THE Laura
Home for Young Women" No. 120 Second
avenue, another good locality. Second ave-
nue. was originally intended to be what Fifth
avenue is-the aristocratic avenue of New
York "The Laura Home" was established
by the. Rev. d. C. Potter from purely phian-
thropic motives, namely, to provide shelter
and home in every sense for young girls with
small means while fitting themselves for
self-maintenance. Although under the SUPER
vision of o minister, Laura Home is nom
sectarian, and there are fewer rules to be OBJ
served than in the other homes [ visited.
Girls are allowed to receive in the parlor calls
| from even ar-sweetheart; but here, as else
| where, testimonials of good character are in
dlspensable to obtaining admittance. Board
costs from S3 to s6 per week, according to
the room occupied, alone or with another
girl. Table first class.
For those who cannot pay these prices I
would recommend the Girls Endeavor club
house, No. 21S West Fourth street. The
| house is plainly but comfortably furnished,
clean and well kept Single rooms, So per
week: double rooms, 81: fire, gas the use of
| the kitchen and all its utensils included in the
charge for lodging. The girls buy and cook
their own food, and thereby avoid paying for
| meals they do not eat great saving for
those who are obliged to be absent from home
| all day. Say they are studying at the art
school in the Cooper Union. In the top of
| that bnildipo fhere is n luuch room yvbere for
81, +o,,+,r on+c q ,,,ool- hot booo1o+a .,,d
ony ."e5 80 ho' =. arleA
hiik' te'' una c',co are soppiieo W .ne puphs,
VINO are allowed TO bflnS thc SOHO part CT
| their lunch with them. In the Girls club
| house various trades are taught for q nominal
| nr;ca This winter tbey have a class in
a,t;so;.1 aoxro,. mo,,;no trado tbat so,,,o
1 1as,.S aao f,rn;shaJ omnioyment to nnmhars
;. ~ aI tha ia,rl eitin" nf tbo ~ mn;tad
| States
o,ta,aainnents aai ora nrou;ded in Tho ouenine;s
to make the time pass anreeably and profita
| bly,. Almost every kind OF working women
| win be found sheltered within these wallis,
| from the art pupil to the seanlstress Those
intending TO pe manual working women are
,S tkn ft f1loD ~ 'iJ ta o,
,,r,ofessions ,,r, srch ne medicine and art Come
| from the different states. and, having COM
| pleted their course of studies, they generally
| scatter to their homes. A recent girl gradu-
ate from the Cooper Union has established
Inrlv,ng w w omans ea 81 Excnange. IN ioledo; y.
1ass a aioi nta ~, ps,,g = ~,
ensrayer ~ in connectic,,t and earns $500 n
wear.
| KWhile learning these professions and trades,
many of the girls earn enough by practising
them IN tneir leisure moments 70 ciotiie tiiein-